Fear of Covid-19 can be taxing, but there is hope in sight. All adults in Jacksonville and throughout Florida are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and along with that comes optimism that we may finally be turning a corner.
But there are many steps in this process that can be taxing on mental health. For the benefit of your overall well-being, it’s helpful to think about those challenges and prepare yourself each step of the way.
Fear of COVID-19
You may feel a sense of routine after more than a year of living with COVID-19 precautions like masks and social distancing. Despite that, it’s valid to still be concerned about the health of yourself and your loved ones.
In Duval County, more than 1,300 people have died because of COVID-19, and the number of people testing positive is verging on 100,000.
By now, you have hopefully developed a self-care routine that helps you with this fear. Now is not the time to let up. Continue to lean on what has gotten you through this last year.
Anticipating Covid-19 Vaccine Eligibility
The most recent Florida Department of Health data shows hundreds of thousands of people in Duval have been fully vaccinated or received the first of the two-shot series. But it was only recently- April 5th- that eligibility opened to all Florida adults and some older teens. Waiting to be eligible, and now waiting for your appointment, can wear on your mental health.
To help as you wait, consider making a list of the things you’re excited about being able to do which you either can’t do or are hesitant to do now- visiting your grandparents, taking a road trip with friends, attending a sports event or concert, or other activities. Focus on the positive that is to come to help push you forward.
Covid-19 Vaccine Shot and Side Effect Concerns
Up to 10% of Americans are highly anxious about needles. While the COVID-19 vaccine is administered in a small, thin needle, that fact in itself likely doesn’t bring much relief for those who are phobic.
Try taking deep breaths and distracting yourself during the shot- maybe spark up a conversation with the healthcare worker administering it. You can also focus on those around you who are not experiencing pain while getting the vaccine.
The shot is one thing, but the side effects are another, and that can cause anxiety. Many people experience side effects relating to the COVID-19 vaccines, including achiness, chills, exhaustion, and more.
Being prepared can help reduce anxiety around potential side effects. Make sure you have some crackers, ginger ale, and over-the-counter pain reliever already stocked in your home, so you don’t have to make a drug store run when you feel run down. Put a friend or family member on standby to check in with you, so you have support. Don’t schedule important work meetings around your vaccination day.
And while it’s helpful to be informed about what you should expect, it’s a fine line from there to information overload. Seeing post after post on social media from people who didn’t feel well can easily start to overshadow those who had no ill effects. Try to limit your information to what will be immediately helpful for you, and otherwise step away from social media and other information sources leading up to your vaccination.
Covid and The Unknown Future
Once you get your vaccine and you’ve taken the time to let your immunity build, there is still a lot unknown about what comes next.
After abiding by precautions for the past year, you shouldn’t expect to suddenly feel comfortable being in social settings. Added to that, businesses are resuming somewhat normal operations and no longer under a mask mandate in Florida.
There’s also uncertainty about how long the effects of the vaccine last and whether enough people will get the vaccine to build the protective level needed in a community.
This means social anxiety and continued unease. Give yourself permission to say no to social gatherings, even after you’re vaccinated. Try to focus on taking everything one day at a time, and realize that you are doing everything you can to protect yourself with the best information you have at any given time.
Be Kind to Yourself
Facing all these different stressors and challenges- and potentially more than one- it is easy to understand why you could struggle with your mental health.
Small steps like meditating, connecting with loved ones, staying hydrated, and similar actions may be able to get you through. But if the steps you generally take are no longer working, or the mental health challenges are getting more frequent or intense, consider reaching out for support. The Jax Therapy Network has an easily searchable database where you can find local, licensed fear and anxiety counselors and therapists near you.
Find therapists for fear or anxiety. Search the Jax Therapy Network and find fear or anxiety therapy near you.
